Waste stream separator

ABSTRACT

A bag holder is positioned on a container and defines an opening allowing access to the interior of the container. A portion of the bag holder surrounds the opening and defines a first section and a second section where the first section is arranged to support a first can liner in the container interior and the second section is arranged to hold a second can liner in the container interior. The first and second sections may also cooperate to also hold a single can liner in the container interior. A cinch may be provided for holding the first can liner and the second can liner on the first section and the second section under tension.

This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the filing date of to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/093,571, as filed on Sep. 2, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to provide two waste collection containers for separating waste streams such as trash and recyclables. Known solutions generally utilize completely separate containers or a separate container attached to either the perimeter of the main collection container or hanging to the inside of the main collection container. The latter methods require the user to remove the secondary container to empty the main collection container. Other known methods entail dividing the opening at the top of the main collection container with rigid components, e.g. bails. This method requires the end user to manipulate the can liners being held by the bails in order to avoid pulling both can liners at the same time when only one liner needs to be changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a bag holder that can be positioned on a container and defines an opening allowing access to the interior of the container. A portion of the bag holder surrounds the opening and defines a first section and a second section where the first section is arranged to support a first can liner in the container interior and the second section is arranged to hold a second can liner in the container interior. The first and second sections may also cooperate to also hold a single can liner in the container interior. The can liners are supported in the interior without any support structure extending across the opening. The portion may include protrusions for engaging the can liner and may be defined by an upwardly extending wall. Two gaps may be provided in said wall to define said first section and said second section.

A cinch may be provided for holding the first can liner and the second can liner on the first section and the second section under tension. The bag holder may be integrally molded on the container or it may be a separate component. The container may be mounted on a vacuum cleaner unit that may be mounted on wheels.

A method of using a waste stream separator is provided comprising providing a bag holder on a container where the bag holder comprising a base defining an opening. A wall surrounds the opening and defines a first section and a second section that are separated by a first gap and a second gap. A top edge of a first can liner is draped over the first section and inserted into the first gap and the second gap such that a portion of the top edge of the first can liner extends across the opening. The first can liner is pulled tight over the wall and tension is maintained on the first can liner by retaining excess first can liner in a cinch. The process may be repeated for a second can liner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a waste collection system using an embodiment of the waste stream separator.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of a waste collection system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the waste stream separator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the waste stream separator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the waste stream separator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of the waste stream separator of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The waste stream separator of the invention is described with reference to the embodiments shown in the attached drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiment comprises a container 2 for receiving trash, recyclables or other material through an open upper end. The container 2 is mounted on a vacuum cleaner unit 4 that is in turn supported on wheels or castors 6 for movement over a surface. The container 2 may be removably mounted on the vacuum cleaner unit 4 or the vacuum cleaner unit and container may be an integrated unit.

Vacuum cleaner unit 4 includes a motor for generating suction in a hose 8 and wand 10. An attachment such as a floor unit 5 may be connected to the wand 10. A dirt receptacle for retaining the vacuumed dirt and debris is located within vacuum cleaner unit 4. The dirt receptacle may be accessible through a door 11 to allow disposal of the collected dirt and debris. The motor for driving the vacuum may be an electric motor that connects to a power source through an electrical plug 9. The vacuum cleaner unit 4 may embody any suitable vacuum structure. Hose 8 and wand 10 may be releasably supported on the apparatus. The floor unit 5 may be supported on platform 4 a and retained by flange 7 that engages mating structure on the floor unit 5. The wand may be held in clamp 12 and the hose may be held in channel 14 formed on the bag holder 16. The clamp 12 and channel 14 may comprise recesses that deform to releasably grip the hose 8 and wand 10.

While the waste stream separator is shown used with a container 2 mounted on a vacuum cleaner unit 4, the waste stream collector may be used with any container with or without the vacuum cleaner unit 4. Further, while the invention is described with specific reference to waste material, the separator of the invention may be used to separate any collected materials and is not limited to waste material.

For new containers, the bag holder portion 16 can be formed integrally with the upper rim of container 2 that defines the open upper end of the container. For existing containers, a separate injection molded bag holder portion 16 made from as a single component or multiple components can be attached to the container's rim. Can liners can be stretched over the bag holder portion 16 as will hereinafter be described.

The bag holder 16 comprises a base 16 a that defines an opening 21 that provides access to the interior of container 2. In the illustrated embodiment the opening 21 is circular to match the opening of container 2, although opening 21 and container 4 may have other shapes if desired.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, opening 21 is defined by an upwardly extending external wall 23 that extends from the base 16 a. A downwardly extending internal wall 25 also extends about the periphery of opening 21 and is connected to wall 23 by a top wall 33 to create an annular cavity 29 between walls 23 and 25 on the underside of the bag holder 16. On the underside of base 16 a, a flange 27, which may form an extension of wall 23, extends downwardly and is spaced outwardly from the wall 25 to further define the annular cavity 29. The cavity 29 is dimensioned to receive the upper rim of container 2.

A plurality of clips 31 may be provided to hold the bag holder 16 on the rim of container 2. In the illustrated embodiment each clip 31 is molded as part of the bag holder and is formed in wall 25 and includes a portion 31 a (FIG. 5) that extends into cavity 29 such that it can engage the underside of the rim of container 4. The clips 31 may be deformed to allow the container rim to pass into cavity 29 and provide a snap-fit connection between the container and bag holder 16. Other mechanisms for connecting the bag holder 16 to the container may be used or the bag holder and container may be made as a single piece.

The bag holder 16 may also be formed with storage pockets 35 for holding miscellaneous equipment used by cleaning personnel. Hooks 41 may also be provided for retaining other equipment such as electrical cords, hanging bags or the like. A handle 43 may also be formed on the bag holder 16 that can be gripped by the user to manipulate the container 2 and/or vacuum unit 4 allowing the user to push or pull the unit around.

Gaps 24 formed as slots in walls 23, 25 and 27 are provided that divide the opening 21 into sections 20 and 22. The gaps 24 accommodate the loading of the can liners into the bag holder 16 and separate the waste or other deposited material into two waste streams. In the illustrated embodiment the gaps 24 are arranged to separate the container into two equal sized halves. The gaps 24 may also be arranged such that the sections 20 and 22 are of unequal size.

A plurality of flanges or protrusions 43 extend outwardly from the wall 23 to grip the can liner and retain the liner on the bag holder 16 in opening 21 as will hereinafter be described. The can liners 28 a and 28 b (FIG. 6) comprise a flexible bag made of plastic or other relatively flexible and elastic material. Can liner 28 a is stretched over the raised section 20 such that a portion of the upper edge of the can liner surrounds wall 23 is caught by protrusions 43. The upper edge of can liner 28 a that is positioned adjacent the opposite ends of section 20 are inserted into gaps 24 such that the remaining portion of the upper edge of the can liner 28 a extends between the gaps 24 as represented by line A in FIG. 4, thereby creating a first receptacle 23 a in opening 21. If only one can liner is used the interior of container 2 can be accessed through the unlined portion of opening 21. A second can liner 28 b can be stretched over the raised section 22 such that a portion of the upper edge of the can liner 28 b surrounds wall 23 in section 22 and is caught by protrusions 43. The upper edge of can liner 28 b, adjacent the opposite ends of section 22, are also turned down and inserted into gaps 24 such that the remaining portion of the upper edge of the can liner 28 b extends between the gaps 24 as represented by line B in FIG. 4, thereby dividing opening 21 into a second lined receptacle 23 b. In another alternate arrangement of the bag holder, a single can liner may be placed over both sections 20 and 22 such that the single can liner fills the entire opening 21 to create a single full size receptacle.

The can liners are pulled relatively taught around the sections 20 and 22 such that the liner is stretched over the raised sections 20 and 22 and grabbed by protrusions 43. The tension in the can liner creates a compressive force on the wall 23 and protrusions 43 to maintain the bag in the suspended position. Excess bag material may be tied into a knot to maintain the tension on the can liner and to maintain the engagement of the can liner with sections 20 and 22 and protrusions 43. Alternatively, the excess can liner material may be retained by a cinch. The cinch comprises holes 32 formed in the bag holder 16. The excess liner material is pulled through the top of holes 32 and is inserted into slots 45 to keep tension on the upper edge of the can liners to create a snug engagement between the can liners and the protrusions 43 and wall 23 to prevent the can liners from falling into the container 2. Tension created by stretching the can liners over the protrusions 43 and raised sections 20 and 22 on opposing sides of the bag holder allows the opening into container 2 to be divided without having a rigid member interrupt the opening that would disrupt the ease of pulling the can liners from the collection container during the emptying operation.

In use the bag holder 16 is located over the top rim of container 2. If the bag holder 16 is a separate device from container 2, the rim of the container 2 may be inserted into cavity 29 and is locked in place by clips 31. The open top edge of a first can liner is draped over raised section 20 and is inserted into gaps 24 such that it extends across a portion of opening 21. The can liner is pulled tight over raised section 20 and is maintained in place using either the cinch mechanism or by tying a knot in the bag to maintain tension on the raised section 20. Likewise, the open top edge of a second can liner is draped over raised section 22 and is inserted into gaps 24 such that it extends across half of opening. The can liner is pulled tight over section 20 and is maintained in place using either the cinch mechanism or by tying a knot in the excess material of the can liner to maintain tension on the can liner. When loaded with two bags, the upper edges of the can liners A and B between the gaps 24 are disposed side by side such that the opening is covered by the two can liners. One can liner may be used where access to the container may be had via the uncovered portion of opening. Alternatively, a single can liner may be used where the upper edge of the can liner is positioned around both sections 20 and 22 such that the can liner fills the entire opening 1.

While embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention has other applications in other environments. Many embodiments are possible. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described above. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: a container defining an interior; a bag holder positioned on the container including a base defining an opening allowing access to the interior, a portion of the bag holder surrounding said opening and extending from said base to define a first section and a second section, said first section arranged to support a first can liner in said interior, said second section arranged to hold a second can liner in said interior with the first can liner, said first can liner and said second can liner being supported in said interior without any support structure extending across said opening, and said first and second sections arranged to cooperate to hold a third can liner in said interior.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one cinch for holding said first can liner and said second can liner on said first section and said second section under tension.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bag holder is integrally molded on said container.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said portion includes protrusions for engaging the can liner.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is mounted on a vacuum cleaner unit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said vacuum cleaner unit is mounted on wheels.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bag holder is separate from said container.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said portion is defined by an upwardly extending wall.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said bag holder includes a cavity dimensioned to receive an upper rim of the container.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a clip retains the bag holder on said rim.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said clip includes a portion that extends into said cavity such that it engages the underside of the rim.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bag holder includes storage pockets.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a handle is formed on the bag holder.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein two gaps are provided in said wall to define said first section and said second section.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first section is equal in size to said second section.
 16. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the wall to retain a liner on the bag holder.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein an upper edge of the first can liner is inserted into said gaps such that a portion of the first can liner extends between the gaps.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein an upper edge of the second can liner is inserted into said gaps such that a portion of the second can liner extends between the gaps.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein an upper edge of the first can liner is disposed over the wall such that a portion of the upper edge of the first can liner surrounds the wall and the upper edge of the first can liner is inserted into the gaps such that a remaining portion of the first can liner extends between the gaps.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein an upper edge of the second can liner is disposed over the wall such that a portion of the upper edge of the second can liner surrounds the wall and the upper edge of the second can liner is inserted into the gaps such that a remaining portion of the second can liner extends between the gaps.
 21. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cinch includes a hole and a slot in said base.
 22. A bag holder comprising: a base defining an opening, a wall surrounding said opening and defining a first section and a second section, said first section arranged to support a first can liner in said interior, said second section arranged to hold a second can liner in said interior with the first can liner, said first can liner and said second can liner being supported in said interior without any support structure extending across said opening, and said first and second sections arranged to cooperate to hold a third can liner in said interior and at least one cinch for maintaining tension in the first and second or third can liners.
 23. The bag holder of claim 22 wherein said wall includes protrusions for engaging the can liner.
 24. The bag holder of claim 22 wherein said bag holder includes a cavity dimensioned to receive an upper rim of a container.
 25. The bag holder of claim 24 further comprising a clip including a portion that extends into said cavity.
 26. The bag holder of claim 22 wherein the base includes storage pockets.
 27. The bag holder of claim 22 wherein a handle is formed on the base.
 28. The bag holder of claim 22 wherein two gaps are provided in said wall to divide the opening into the first section and the second section.
 29. The bag holder of claim 22 wherein the cinch comprises a hole and a slot formed in the base.
 30. A system comprising: a container having a rim defining an opening; means supported on the container for supporting a first can liner and a second can liner such that the first can liner may be removed from the container without removing the second can liner.
 31. A method of using a waste stream separator comprising: providing a bag holder on a container, said bag holder comprising a base defining an opening, a wall surrounding said opening and defining a first section and a second section, said first section and said second section separated by a first gap and a second gap; draping an open top edge of a first can liner over said first section and inserting the top edge of the first can liner into said first gap and said second gap such that a portion of the top edge of the first can liner extends across said opening; pulling the first can liner tight over the wall; maintaining tension on said first can liner by retaining excess first can liner in a cinch; draping the open top edge of a second can liner over said second section and inserting the top edge of the second can liner into said first gap and said second gap such that a portion of the top edge of the second can liner extends across said opening; pulling the second can liner tight over the wall; maintaining tension on said second can liner by retaining excess second can liner in a cinch. 